Local Authorities can apply to be CASE partners on PhD studentships in which
they take part in joint supervision of the studentship. A CASE student spends at
least 3 months of the studentship at the partner organisation and maximum of 18
months; the time can be spread over the entire studentship.
Examples of current and past CASE studentships of relevance to local authorities
are illustrated below, listed by topic area:
Page Index
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Environmental Quality
Flooding
Safer Communities
Climate Change
Restoring Peatlands to Mitigate against Climate Change
HEI: University of Leeds
Department: School of Geography
Project Title: Managing peatlands as carbon stores
Period of Award: 1 Oct 2010 - 30 Sep 2014
View Award Details
here
- Peatlands provide an important carbon store or “sink” to help mitigate man-made
climate change. However, a variety of ongoing disturbances (including drainage
and peat cutting) are increasing loss of peatland carbon to the atmosphere and
groundwater.
- Peatland restoration aims to reduce this carbon loss, however, some measures
may be counter-productive by increasing emissions of methane - a potent, carbon
rich greenhouse gas - from peatlands.
- This project investigates how restoration measures will affect the carbon
sink function of peatlands at Thorne and Hatfield Moors, South Yorkshire.
- Results will improve UK and international policy and guidelines on peatland
restoration for climate mitigation.
Using Biochar to “Geoengineer” against Climate Change
HEI: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Department: Watt
CASE Partner: Scottish Crop Research Institute
Project Title: [AGRIFOOD] Biochar and bio-trophic carbon storage in temperate soils
Period of Award: 1 Oct 2010 - 30 Sep 2014.
View Award Details
here
- Governments are calling for geoengineering methods to help deal with dangerous
man made climate change.
- Biochar involves capture of atmospheric carbon by agricultural crops and
conversion of crops by pyrolysis into biochar, which is sequestered in soil
- Advocates claim biochar could convert agricultural soil from a net carbon
source to sink and increase crop productivity. Evidence to support these claims
is limited. In addition, little is known about the impact of biochar on soil
biodiversity and the functions that this drives.
- The project will show if biochar is likely to lead to successful carbon
sequestration and its consequences for soil communities and the functions they
underpin.
Using Green Roofs to meet National Indicator Performance Targets
HEI: University of Manchester
Department: Environment & Development
CASE Partner: Manchester City Council
Project Title: Quantification of the Microclimate modification properties of green
roofs in the urban environment
Period of Award: 1 Oct 2009 - 30 Sep 2013
View Award Details
here
- Green roofs provide important ecosystem services within urban environments,
such as enhanced biodiversity and climate change adaptation.
- Potentially, green roofs could form part of local authority strategies to
achieve National Indicator performance targets. However, there is limited guidance
or policy provision for green roofs, due in part to a lack of research quantifying
their benefits.
- This project aims to quantify the role of green roofs in improving the local
environment, using the case study area of Greater Manchester.
- Research will assess the benefits of green roofs for climate change adaptation
and other ecosystem services, helping to inform what is 'best practice' for
green roofs in the local context.
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Biodiversity and Environmental Quality (Air, Land and Water)
Managing Peatlands to meet Water Framework Directive Targets
HEI: University of Leeds
Department: School of Geography
CASE Partner: Yorkshire Water
Project Title: Influence of peatland management on upland stream ecosystems
Period of Award: 1.10.2006 - 30.9.2009
View Award Details
here
- Upland peat plays an important function in modifying stream flow and water
chemistry of peatland rivers.
- Intensive management practises such as artificial drainage and burning vegetation
may impact this function, with knock effects for the algae, invertebrates (such
as mayflies and stoneflies), and food chains (containing birds and fish) supported
by peatland rivers.
- Presently we know little about algae or invertebrates in peatland rivers.
This project will examine how stream invertebrates and algae respond to peatland
management practices including drainage and burning.
- Results will help land owners address targets set by the 2000 EU Water Framework
Directive, which aims to protect plants, algae, invertebrates and other animals
that live in rivers.
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Environmental Quality (Air, Land and Water)
Modelling Air-Borne Particulate Matter in the West Midlands
HEI: University of Birmingham
Department: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
CASE Partner: Birmingham city council
Project Title: Numerical Modelling of Air-Borne Particulate Matter in the West Midlands
Period of Award: 1.1.2004 - 31.12.2006
View Award Details
here
- Airborne particulate matter (APM) is inhalable and can deposit in the lungs,
so is damaging to human health.
- To meet air quality targets for APM, effective controls must be implemented
requiring good models to predict concentrations and identify sources of APM.
- This project will develop an air quality model for the West Midlands which will
be used generate APM population exposure maps.
- Results will help local government and regulatory bodies assess and develop
effective strategies for air quality management and control.
Effect of Commercial Land Uses on Water and Ecological Quality in the Norfolk
Broads
HEI: University of East Anglia
Department: Environmental Sciences
CASE Partner: Broads Authority
Project Title: Deriving a catchment mass balance for a lowland wetland system: a
case study in the Norfolk Broads
Period of Award: 1.10.2005 - 30.9.2008
View Award Details
here
- The Norfolk Broads are a unique landscape comprising the largest area of
inland waterways in Britain.
- Commercial farming and tourism land uses impact water quality and ecological
balance of the Broads, through input of nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus),
sediment and salt water. However, specific connections between these land uses
and the water quality of the shallow lakes is poorly understood.
Results will inform future management of the Broads and the delivery of “clear
water” status for the Norfolk broads.
Identifying Local and Regional Contributions to Nitrogen Dioxide in York
HEI: University of York
Department: Environment
CASE Partner: City of York Council
Project Title: Local and Regional Contributions to NO2 Concentrations in Urban Areas
of the UK
Period of Award: 1.10.2004 - 30.9.2007
View Award Details
here
- The City of York Council (CYC) has declared a significant part of the city
an “Air Quality Management Area” (AQMA), within which nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
level is expected to exceed the air quality objectives.
- Current air quality models developed for York under predict the real measured
level for NO2 within the AQMA.
- This project aims to resolve this discrepancy using a combination of air
quality monitoring and modelling techniques. In particular, local and regional
contributions to NO2 concentrations in the city will be identified.
- Results will help CYC ensure air pollutant concentrations for the city stay
within acceptable limits.
Using Aquatic Filter Feeders to Improve Reservoir Water Quality and Biodiversity
HEI: University of Cambridge
Department: Zoology
CASE Partner: Anglian Water Services Ltd
Project Title: [WATER] Cultivation of biological filters for the improvement of
reservoir water quality and biodiversity
Period of Award: 1 Oct 2010 - 30 Sep 2014
View Award Details
here
- Eutrophication-driven biodiversity loss is a concern in many UK reservoirs
which are important sites for conservation (SSSIs and SACs). Eutrophic reservoirs
also present a considerable problem for water purification, supply and consumption.
- Existing techniques to tackle eutrophication by removing nutrients are expensive,
many are environmentally harmful, and most are unreliable in their performance.
- This project will test whether broadscale cultivation of filter-feeding
invertebrates in UK reservoirs offers an efficient, cost-effective tool for
improving reservoir water quality for potable supply, and to enhance biodiversity.
- Results will help the UK meet European Water Framework Directive targets
which demand good ecological status of all European surface waters by 2015.
Understanding How Pesticides Reach Drinking Water reservoirs to Improve Reservoir
Management
HEI: University of Bristol
Department: Geographical Sciences
CASE Partner: Wessex water
Project Title: Understanding pesticide dynamics at the catchment scale for the management
of drinking water reservoirs
Period of Award: 1 Oct 2009 - 30 Sep 2013
View Award Details
here
- Pesticides applied on farmland are a source of pollution for the surrounding
areas and in particular, for local watercourses which may supply drinking-water
reservoirs
- Currently there is no legislative requirement to record pesticide application
on farmlands, which makes monitoring and managing pesticide levels within drinking-water
reservoirs a serious problem, with important implications for public health.
- This project will conduct field surveys within the Durleigh catchment, and
utilize existing data to provide a detailed understanding of how pesticides
are transported to Durleigh drinking-water reservoir.
- Research will lead to better management practices of the reservoir and ultimately
to the design of mitigation measures at the farm level.
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Flooding
The Environmental Sustainability of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
HEI: University of Edinburgh
Department: Geosciences, Ecology and Resource Management
CASE Partner: Scottish Water
Project Title: Processes controlling sedimentation and sediment quality in sustainable
urban drainage systems
Period of Award: 13.12.2004 - 12.4.2008
View Award Details
here
- Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) reduce flood risk by temporarily
storing rainwater in ponds and wetlands before releasing to rivers. At the same
time, deposition of contaminants within SUDS reduces water pollution.
- To maintain SUDS, sediment deposited must be removed and disposed of, which
costs money and may pose a hazard to the environment. Little is known about
sediment deposition rates and sediment quality within SUDS, and adverse effects
of disposing of sediment.
- This research uses a combination of methods to improve understanding of
these issues.
- Results will be used by environmental regulators, developers, local authorities
and highways agencies to reduce costs and improve environmental sustainability
of SUDS.
For more information on the NERC CASE studentships, please visit the:
CASE Studentship Open Competition
here
Research CASE studentships
here
Alternatively, please can contact: Dr. Louisa Watts at:
lw@nerc.ac.uk and Mr. Andrew Richardson
atajri@nerc.ac.uk of the NERC Knowledge Exchange
team, and Dr Avril Allman at: aval@nerc.ac.uk
of the NERC Studentships team.
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Safer Communities
Reducing Drug Risk
An ESRC-funded collaborative CASE studentship between the University of Plymouth
and Plymouth Drug and Alcohol Action Team has influenced new drug-related policy
and practice locally. Research by Steven Parkin, with supervisor Dr Ross Coomber,
revealed how places produced risks, how policing and other service activities displaced
rather than resolved risk, and led to discussions of new practice such as locating
safe injecting outlets in places of need. The Action Team are planning to embed
annual CASE applications in their forward planning, while partner teams in Devon
and Cornwall also are looking to support applications with Dr Coomber.
View the Full Case Study
here
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